Fuel-feed system



H. W. HAMILTON.

FUEL FEED SYSTEM. v APPLICATION FlLED JULY 2.1917

1 106,377. Q Patenfod June 10, 1919 3 SHEETSSHEETI F177 r if v, r

WITNESSES: /7 l/VVE/VTOR W B Q, HAR/ey M HAMIIfTON H. W. HAMILTON.

FUEL FEED SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.1917

1 $306,377, Patented June 10, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- IT I llilili i Ll ummHW WITN888: IIWENTOR [HARRY M HAM/LTa/v V BY 2% '7 w w ATTORNEYS H. W. HAMILTON.

FUEL FEED SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUILY 2.1911.

Patented June 10, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- M 3 m f/ 4%; O w w w/ n w lfr/i/E/VTOI? HARW M HAMILTON i TTOR/VE r3 HARRY W. HAMILTON, 015 DETROIT. MICHIGAN. ASSIGNOE, TO HAMILTON MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIE-NA. A CORPOEATZON OF INDIANA.

FUEL-FEED SYSTEIVI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 2, 1917. Serial No. 178,324.

lie it known that l. llAnuYlV. llAMIL'l'UN, a citizen of the l nited States, residing at Detroit. in the county ot 'ayne and State of lvlichigan, have invented a new and useful Fuel-Feed System, of which the followin is a specification.

it is the object of my invention to provide an improved type of petrol pump for supplying fuel to internal combustion engines, especially in automobiles. as when the main supply tank is lower than the earbiireter; to make such pump simple in structure, iasy to manufacture, and reliable in operation; and in particular to guard against simultaneous connection to the source of vacuum and to the atmosphere, to provide a positive closure for the valve between the upper and lower chambers. and to prevent flooding by the action of the same float which controls the atmosphere and vacuum connections.

"lh i accompanying drawings illustrate my invention. Figure 1 is a vertical central section through a petrol pump embodying my inventiolt, being taken substantially on the line 1-1 o'l Fig. l; Fig. is a partial section and partial elevation through the upper part of my petrol tank. the section beingtaken on the line 22 of Fig. 4: Fig. is a. detail of the. vacuum and atmosphere *alves, and their operating mechanism, showing both valves closed; Fig. l is a horizontal section through my petrol pump. being taken substantially on the line l i oi Fig. 1;

is a diagrammatic view showing: the relative arrangementof my petrol pump, the main supply tank. the carburetor. and the engine of an automobile.

ln many it not most modern automobiles, the "fuel tank 10 is normally lower than the carbureter 11 by which the explosive mix ture supplied to the engine 12 is made. such main tank 10 usually being; at the rear of the auton'iobile chassis 13. as indicated in Fig. 5A In order to supply" fuel to the carbureter 11 from this lOnml' supply tank 10. mount my petrol pump 14: at a point higher than the carburetor 11, e mveniently under the automobile hood and interconnect, this petrol pump with the main supply tank 10 by a pipe 16. with the carburetor 11 by a pipe 17, and with a source of vacuum. such as the intake manifold 18 by a pipe 19, so as to utilize the vaeuunr in such intake man? told to hit the fuel from the main tank 10 into the petrol'pump, \vlnmce it is allowed to tlow to the earlnn'etei. ll by gravity. lily present invention is not in this broad idea, but in the particular petrol pump and its connections. 7

My petrol pump has a central horizontal plate 20 which supports the vvhole pump and is provided at its rear edge with at-tz chine; feet 521 by which it may be mounted. as on the dash oi the automobile. 'lwe metal cup-shaped shells .2 and 127i are attached to the central plate 20 on the upper and lower sides of the latter. with their open ends against such plate. conveniently being; i'astened by bolts it? which pass through outwardly extending flanges 2. at, the open ends of such shells and through the intermediate plate 20 near the edge thereol. The central plate and these. shells Form an uppe chamher 28 and a lower chamber 29. The pipe 17 passes tl'irough the lower end o'l' shell to comnmnieate with the lower part 0% chamber The edge of the plate 28 is provided at points approximately opposite the feet 2]. with two holler. projections and 81. which are threaded tor etmneetion to the pipes ll; and 19 respective y, and is also provided with an opening 39 direct to the atmosphere. l he openings in the hollow projections and the opening 3 0 and 3'2 communicate by passages in the plate 20 with three pipes 83 iiiand 35 respe 'tixely. which project upvv'ard from plate 2( into the chamber 28. L

At the upper end ()l the pi fitting; ill on which is piv lever 3'7 carrying at one em" cooperates with the valve certain conditions to pipe 33. file other e forked to project on tl under oi the a er is les of the float stem 39 of the float ll). on. which lloat stem is a collar 41 \v level in the chamber rises beyond a determined level ce 'ip ates with the lever 37 to move the latter in counter clockwise direction (Fig):v 2) so to push the valve 3% against the fitting: Eli; and close the pipe 33. Thus the tloat 40 closes "he valve Eltlto shut otl' posiiively the llovv oi the fuel into the chamber 28 tron'i the supply tank it! when the fuel level in such chamber reaches a predetermined height, which prealetermined nch when the liquid pro .fleets downward the fuel discharged from the pipe 33 and prevents such fuel irom being thrown into the upper part of the chamber 28 and splashing around therein.

Mounted on the upper ends and 35 is a valve fitting 4:5, which has two downwardly presented valve seats -16 and 47 which communicate with the pipes 34 and 35 respectively. Two needle valves 48 and 49 cooperate with these respective valve seats, and are earrled by two separate and 1 independent bell crank levers 50 and 51,

. mounted on separate pivot pins 52 and in the valve fitting 45. The closing movements of the valves 48 and 49 are limited by their engagement with the valve seats 46 and 47, and their opening movement is limited by the engagement of the bell crank levers 50 and 51 with shoulders 54 and on the valve fitting &5. A lever 56 is'also pivotally mounted on the valve fitting 45, on a pivot pin 57, and is connected at one end to the upper end of the float stem 3%), the lower end of which is guided in a\holc 58 suitably provided in the central plate 20. Two sets of springs (30 and 61 extend from two intermediate points on the lever 56 to the two bell crank levers 50 and rcspcctively, being connected to the latter at the opposite ends thereof from those which carry the valves 4-8 and 49. In the arrangi;ement shown, each of these sets of springs comprises two springs, projecting on'opposite sides of the valve fitting t5, and connected at opposite ends of cross hart on the lever 56 and the bell crank levers '30 and 51. The points of connection of the sets of springs 60 and 61 to the lever 56 and the bell crank levers 50 and 51, and the relative locations of the shoulders 54; and with relation to valve seats i7 and 46 rcspec tively, are such that as the lever 56 is moved the lines of pull of the two sets of springs 60 and (31 pass through the pivot points and 53 successively and not simultzmcously, making such passage first for the springs associated with that one oi. the two valves 48 and 49 which is open so as to produce a closing of suchvalve before the other or closed valve is opened. By this construction, the two valves 48 and 49 are never open simultaneously, so that the chamber 253 is never connected at the same time to both the source of vacuum and to the atmosphere.

The central plate 20 is perforated to proride a passageway 65 between the upper oi pipes 3 t and lower chambers 28 and 2 The lo er end of this passageway 35 is coutrollco. by a: plate valve 66, which is guided in is movements by a yohe (37, The plate valve till is connected by a chain (58 to a projection from the lever 56, so that when the float 40 reaches its lower limit of movement the valve 66 is brought to closed position positively, thus positively breaking the COTlll((3 tion between the upper and lower chambers when such lloat reaches its lowermost position and thereby causes an inliow of fuel. into the upper chamber as hereinafter explained. in order that the fuel in the lower chamber 29 may be under atmospheric pressure when the valve (Si?- is closed, the central plate 20 is provided with an opening (39 communicating with the top of the chamber 29 and with an upwardly extending pipe 70 on the outside of the shell 24, the upper ,end of this pipe 70 being above the highest possible fuel level in the upper chamber 28 and preferably having its upper end formed as a return bend to prevent the clogging of the pipe by settling dust. The upper end of the pipe 70 is open. to the atmosphere.

ltn o 'ieration, the enginel? maintains a certain suction in its intake manifold. When the valve 48 open, this suction is also developed in the chamber 28, but is prevented from being transmitted to the chamber 29 by the valve 66, which when once closed is held closed by this suction while the float l0 rises so long as the valve 48 remains open. ll'hcn this suction is developed in the chamber 28, it causes fuel to flow from the main supply tank 10 through'the pipe 16, the hollow projection 80, and the pipe 83, into the chamber 28; As this fuel flows into the chamber 28, it hits the float 4-0, (the valve ('36 nevertheless being heldclosed by the suction,) and thereby n'iovcs the lever 50, until the line of pull of the set of springs (30 passes the pivot point 52, whereupon the valve 48 is snapped from open to closed position. or a moment, the valves 48 and 49 are then in the position shown in Fig. 3. The closing of the valve 48 disconnects the chamber 28 from the source of vacuum, but for a very short period of time after the closing of the valve l8 the fuel continues to flow into the chamber 28 from the pipe 33, by reason of the momentum of the fuel and of the static condition of partial vacuum which exists in the chamber 28 momentarily even though the valve 48 is closed. Therefore, immediately after the valve 48 is closed, the contim' ued upward movement of the float 40 and the continued swinging of the lever 56 moves.

the line of pull of the set 0t springs 61 past the pivot point '53, thereby producing a snapping open of the valve 49. This opening movement of the valve 49 occurs immediately after the closing oi the valve 418, but

not until the valve 48 has been closed, so that the valves 48 and 49 are not both open at once. This connects the chamber 28 to the atn'iosphere, to. admit atmospheric pres sure into such chamber. The pressure in the :hamber 28 then immediately rises to atn'iosphere, and the inflow of fuel from the pipe 33 stops, and by reason of atmospheric pressure conditions in the chamber 28 the valve (36 drops open. Fuel now flows by gravity from the upper chamber 28 into the lower chamber 29, and up into the riser pipe 70. its fuel is used by the engine, and is thereby drawn from the chamber 29, the fuel froin the chamber 28 flows through the passe n 65 into the chamber 29 to take the place of that which is drawn oil for use, and the fuel level in the chamber 28 falls. The float 40 likewise falls, to swing the lever 56 in the opposite or clockwise direction. Even tually, as the float 4O approaches its lower .niost limit of movement, it swings the line of pull of the set of springs ('31 past the pivot point 53, tl'iereby causing the valve 49 to snap to closed position to shut oil the connection of the chamber 28 to atmosphere, and immediately thereafter, as the float 4O continues to fall though very slightly, swings the line of pull of the set of springs past the pivot point 52 to snap the valve 48 open and thereby connect the chamber 28 to the source of vacuum. At substantially the same time that the valve 48 is snapped open, the valve 66 is positively brought to closed position, thereby closing the connmmication between the upper and lower chambers. The vacuum condition) now produced in the chamber 28 causes the I inflow of fuel thcreinto from the pipe '33 as has been explained, and produces a repetition ot' the cycle just described. This is repeated as often as required by the demands of the engine, and a constant supply of fuel is thereby maintained for the carburetor. In addition, there is no time when the upper chamber 28 is connected simultaneously with both the source otvacuuzn and the atn'iosphere.

it for any reason the inflow of fuel into the upper chamber 28 continues after the valve 4-8 is closed, as because of a forward tilting of the automobile as when descending a hill, the continued rise of the float 4.0 closes the alve 38 and prevents flooding, as already explained.

l claim as my invention:

1', A petrol pump for fuel leed systems, com 'irisinp; a casing divided into upper and lower chambers, float mechanism controlled by the liquid level in the upper chamber tor controlling the fluid pressure condition therein to produce intern'iittcnt feeding of fuel by suction into said upper chamber, and a valve controlling the connection between said two chambers, said valve being controlled jointly by said Heat and by the pressure condition in the upper chamln and being arranged so that it is closed by the action of the float when the latter reaches its lower limit of movement but is otherwise free from the float and has a normal tendcncy to open.

2. A petrol pump for fuel food systems, comprising; a casing divided into upper and lower chambers. float mechanism controlled by the liquid level in the upper chamber for controlling the fluid pressure condition therein to produce intermittent feeding of fuel by suction int-o said HD1101(flliillllltl,tlll(l a valve controlling the connection between said two chambers, said valve beingconnected to said float so that it is positively moved to its seat when the float reaches its lower limit of movei'ncnt. but otherwise being free from the float and having a normal tendency to open and when closed being held to its seat by the suction created by a. low pressure condition in the upper chainher until the float reaches its upper limit of movement and causes a higher pressure condition in said upper chamber.

3. petrol pump for fuel food systems,

comprising a casing divided into upper and lower chambers, float mechanism controlled by the liquid level in the upper chamber for controlling the finid pressure condition therein to produce.intermittent feeding of fuel by suction into said upper clnunben aml avalve controlling theroi'mection between said tvo chambers, said valve being connected to said float so that it is positively moved to its seat when the float reaches its lower limit of movement but otherwise being tree from the float and having a normal tendency to open.

l. A petrol pump for fuel teed systems, comprising; a casing: divided into upper and lower chambers, a fuel supply pipe leading, to the upper chamber, connections from said upper chamber to a source of "acuum and to the atn'iospherc, a float in the upper chamb and responsive to the liquid level therein, said float coiipcmtin; with said connections to the source of vacuum and to tl at niosphcre to produce alternately relatively low and high pressure conditions in said upper chamber when the lioat reachcs its lower and upper limit of movement respectively, and a valve controlling; the connection between the upper and lower chambers and connected. to the float so as to be positively closed thereby when the float reaches its lower limit of nmvement but otherwise beinn tree from the float and having, a normal tendency to open, said connection between the float and the valve permitting,- the valve to be held closed by the low pressure con dition in the upper chamber while the float rises.

5. A petrol pump tor fuel feed systems,

eon'iprising a casing divided into upper and lower chambers, a fuel supply pipe leading to the upper chamber, connections from said upper chamber to a source of vacuum and to the atmosphere, a float in the upper chamber and responsive to the liquid level therein, said float cooperating with said connections to the sourceol vacuum and to the atmosphere to produce alternately relatively low and high pressure conditions in said up per chamber when the float reaches its lower and upper limit of movement respectively, and a valve controlling the connection betnecn the upper and lower chambers and connected to the float so as to be positively closed thereby when the float reaches its lower limit of movement butotherwise being free from the float and having a n rinal tendency to open. v

(3. ii petrol pump for fuel feed systems,

' comprising a casing divided into upper and lower chambers, a fuel supply pipe leading into said upper chamber troma normally lower source of fuel supply,,a il0" 3 controlled by the liquid level in the"upper chamber, said upper chamber having a cpnnection adapted to lead to a source of s-iction, mechanism operated by said float and controlling said connection to the source of suction to produce alternately relatively high ,and low pressure conditions in said upper chamber upon normal rise and fall of liquid level in said upper chamber and thereby to produce intermittent feeding of fuel. into said upper chamber through said supply pipe, and a valve controlling said supply pipe and loosely associated with said float so that it is not all'ect-ed by normal rise and fall of liquid level in said up or chamber but is closed by said float upon 2 normal rise of said liquid level.

7. A petrol pump for fuel feed systems, comprising a feed conduit from a lower source of fuel supply to a carburetor and including a chamber at a higher level than either the carburetor or the fuel source, connections from saidchamber to a source of vacuum. and to the atmosphere, a float controlled by the liquid level insaid chamber, mechanism operated by said float and con trolling said connections to sald source of vacuum and the atmosphere to produce alnections respectively, and ai single iloat controlled by the liquid level in said. chamber and controlling both of said valves, said float operating to close the said two valves successively and at different fuel levels upon rise in the liquid le-vel in said chamber and to permit them to open successively and at different fuel levels 'upon fall in said fuel level.

ll. A petrol pump for fuel ieed systems, comprising a casing providing upper and lower chambers, a valve controlling the conncction between said two chambers, a valve controlling the connection of said upper chamber to a source of fuel supply, valve mechanism for controlling the pressure condition in said upper chamber, each of said valves having movements independent of the others, and a single float controlling all of said valves.

10. A petrol pump [or fuel feed systems, comprising a casing providing upper and lower chambers, a valve controlling the connection between said two chambers, a

' 'alve controlling theconncction of said upper chamber to a source of fuel supply, a single float controlling both of said valves, and float-controlled valve mechanism controlling the pressure condition in said upper chamber, each of said valves having movements independent of the others.

11. In combination, a liquid ehaniberhaving connections to a source of vacuum, to a supply of liquid, to the atmosphere,'and to a device which is to 'be supplied with such 1 liquid, two independent valves controlling said first and third connections, and means controlled by the liquid level in said chamber for closing the valve in the first connection and opening the valve in the third connection successively upon rise in Said liquid level and for closing the valve in the third connection and opening the valve in the first connection successively upon fall in such liquid level.

12. In combination, a liquid ehamberhaving connections to a source of vacuum, to a supply of liquid, to the atmosphere,-and to a device which is to be supplied witlrsueh liquid, two independent valves control" ling said first and third connections, and means controlled by the liquid level in said chamber for closing the valve in the first connection and opening the valve in the third connection successively upon rise in said liquid level.

13. In combination a liquid chamber haiv ing, connections to a source of vacuum, to a supply of liquid, to the atmosphere, and

to a device which is to be supplied with such liquid, two independent valves controlling said first and third connectionmand means controlled by the liquid level in said chem i IN -"\"alvcs controlling the first and third con nection and opening the valve ir he connection successively upon ital. such liquid level.

14-. In combination, a liquid iamher having connections to a source or vacuum, to a suppl v of liquid, to the atmosphere, and to a device which to be supplied with such liquid, two independent v lves controlling the first and third connect-ions respectively, and a float controlled by the liquid level in said chambe and controllia said va oppositcl but so that one always closes l35- fore the other opens.

' 15. In combination, a. liquid chamber hav ing connections to a source oi vacuum, to asupplv of liquid, to the atmosphere, a; d to a device which is to be Suppl" withsucl'i. liquid, valves controlling the f st and third connections respectively, and lloat con trolled by the liquid level in said chamber.

and controlling said valves oppos 3. but so that one always closes belore ti e other opens, said two valves being meansl'or causing them to ope snap action.

16. In combination, a. liquid chamber having connections to a smirce vacuum, to a supply of liquirhto the atmosphere, and to device which is to be supplies L liquid, two independentpivotallv monn ovided with ate .th

ncctions. a float-operated nicnib controlle by the liquid level in said ch inher, a sprin connecting each of said pivotally mounter valves to said. float-operated member an I arranged so that the line of spring action i. moved to opposite sides of the Hot point of such valve upon movement i said float- Operated member as the liqui. and falls to operate said valves said springs being arranged so t :at which is connected to the valve which is moved past the pivotal point oi to produce closing or" such valve h spring of the closed valve moved t. cu pivotal point of such valve to produce opening thereof.

17. In combination, a. liquid chamber haw ing connections to a source of vacuum, to a. supply of liquid, to the atmosphere, and to a device which isto be supplied with such liquid, two independent givolallv mounted valves controlling the first and. thn connections, a float-operated n'ieinber controlled. by the liquid level in said chamber, a spring; connecting each of said pivota'lly inc.

open such valve i anged so that the line of spring action is moved to opposite sides of the pivot of such valve upon movement of said float-opcrate member as the liquid level rises and falls to operate said valves oppositely.

18. in combination, a liquid chau'i'ber having connections to a source of vacuum, to a. supply liquid, and to a device which is to be supplied with such liquid, valves controlline; the first and second of said connections ctively, and a single float controlled by the liquid level in said chamber and controlling both of said valves, said float 0per ating to close both of said valves upon rise to successively higher levels and to open both of said valves in reverse order upon fall to successively lower levels of the liquid level in said chamber.

ln combination, a liquid chamber having connections to a source of vacuum, to a supply oi? liquid, and to a device which is to be supplied with such liquid, valves controlthe first and second of said connections respectively, and a single float controlled by the liquid level in said chamber and controlsaid valves at difierent liquid levels.

:20. a petrol pump for fuel feed systems, cc rising a casing providing upper and lo r chambers, a valve controlling the conncction between said two chambers, a valve controlling the connection of said upper chamber so a source of fuel supply, valve mechanism for controlling the pressure condition in said upper chamber, and a single float controlling all of said valves, said float acting on said second valve at a higher fuel level than that at which it acts on the other valves.

A petrol pump for fuel feed systems, comprising a casino providing upper and lower chambers, a. valve controlling the connection between said two chambers, a valve controlling the connection of said upper c amber to a source of fuel supply, a single float controlling both of said valves, and ll0lllFCOl'lll'OlltECl valve mechanism controlling the pressure condition in said upper cl amher. said float acting on said second valve at a higher fuel level than that at which it acts on the first valve. v

in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at lndianapolis, Indiana, this 20th day of June, A. l). one thousand nine hundred and seventeen. 

